Senior clerics urge Hamas to open dialogue with Salafists

GAZA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Two senior Muslim clerics on Sunday called on Islamic Hamas movement to open a dialogue with the Salafists in Gaza, instead of arresting them.

The Gaza-based scholars made the call as Hamas forces stepped up its crackdown against the Salafist Jihadists since their al- Qaida-inspired groups claimed responsibility for firing rockets into Israel.

Hamas saw the rocket fire as a challenge for the ceasefire which was brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas in November.

Na'el Masran, one of the Salafi Sheikhs, said on his Facebook page that Hamas "should be flexible with the Salafi youths and extend to them the hands of brethren, mercy and kindness and open a dialogue with them."

He also urged Hamas to stop arresting the Jihadists.

Majdi Al-Mughrabi, another cleric, said that the Jihadists are being chased down by both Hamas and Israel. He said the dialogue was the only solution.

Last week, families of Salafists held by Hamas staged a rare sit-in protest in Gaza City. They said that about 14 Jihadists are detained inside Hamas prisons with no charges.